Sample paper · GCSE Foundation · grades 1–5
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)
The real Paper 1 is 1.5 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks, non-calculator, and all three papers carry equal weight. This sample is 20 original questions in the same content proportions as the Foundation qualification — number 25%, algebra 20%, ratio, proportion and rates of change 25%, geometry and measures 15%, probability 7.5%, statistics 7.5% — with no calculator-only items. AO1 / AO2 / AO3 at this tier: 50% / 25% / 25%.
Non-calculatorGCSE Foundation
GCSE Foundation sample Paper 1 (non-calculator)
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- 1.Work out (−3) × 4 + 2 × (−5)
- 2.Simplify p + p + p.
- 3.In a test, Amelia answered 18 of the 24 questions correctly. Work out the percentage of the questions she answered correctly.
- 4.A circle has two straight radii drawn from the centre to the edge, together with the arc between them. Write down the name of the region enclosed by these two radii and the arc.
- 5.A drawing pin is dropped many times and lands either point up or point down. The relative frequency of landing point up is recorded as the experiment goes on: after 50 drops it is 0.720, after 200 drops it is 0.665, and after 1000 drops it is 0.638. The pin is to be dropped a further 2000 times. Work out the best estimate of the number of times it will land point up.
- 6.A pie chart shows the favourite sport of the 40 pupils in a class: football 50%, netball 25%, tennis 15% and swimming 10%. Work out how many pupils chose football.
- 7.A circle has a diameter of 10 cm. Work out the exact circumference of the circle, in terms of π.
- 8.Two expressions are 4(x + 3) and 4x + 3. A student checks whether they are equivalent by substituting x = 2. Which statement correctly interprets the result?
- 9.A machine fills bottles at a constant rate. It fills 18 bottles in 3 minutes. Working at the same rate, work out how many bottles the machine fills in 8 minutes.
- 10.In geometry, which of the following best describes a 'plane'?
- 11.Leo flips a fair coin twice. He makes a list of every possible result of the two flips, writing down what the first flip lands on and then what the second flip lands on. Work out how many of the results in his list contain at least one tail.
- 12.Work out −4.5 + 2.8.
- 13.Which of these quadratic graphs does NOT cross the x-axis at all?
- 14.A cookery class lasts 45 minutes. A double lesson at school lasts 2 hours. Write the length of the cookery class as a fraction of the length of the double lesson. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 15.The bearing of a campsite B from a walker's position A is 070°. What is the bearing of A from B?
- 16.A lorry travels 105 miles in 1 hour 45 minutes. Work out its average speed in miles per hour.
- 17.Work out the gradient of the straight line with equation 3y = 12 − 6x.
- 18.A salt solution has a concentration of 10%. The solution contains 50 g of salt. Work out the total mass of the solution.
- 19.The density of a type of plastic is 0.9 g/cm³. Work out this density in kg/m³.
- 20.A graph shows two quantities, x and y, in direct proportion. Write down which statement about the graph must be true.
How the 20 questions are shared out
- Number — 5 questions (25% of the qualification)
- Algebra — 4 questions (20% of the qualification)
- Ratio, proportion and rates of change — 5 questions (25% of the qualification)
- Geometry and measures — 3 questions (15% of the qualification)
- Probability — 2 questions (7.5% of the qualification)
- Statistics — 1 question (7.5% of the qualification)
Where an area has fewer printable questions than its share, the shortfall is filled from the other areas. These are original questions, not past papers.